The Open experts' picks
— -- ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- The year's third major has all eyes on Jordan Spieth, but in our format of picking a golfer only once all season, almost everyone has already used the 21-year-old Texan.
So who will our experts go for at the Home of Golf? Remember, they "earn" whatever their selection makes at the end of the week.
Matt Barrie, SportsCenter anchor
Rickie Fowler: Momentum in golf is key. And right now, Fowler has it. After an absolute embarrassment at the U.S. Open, following his win at the Players, Fowler bounced back last weekend at the Scottish Open. It was a links-style course, and Fowler again showed his ability on that style track. His body is rested from the time change and travel, while Jordan Spieth is playing catch-up. Rory McIlroy not being in the field is one fewer hurdle for Fowler. Another young golf star gets his major. It's Rickie's time.
Jonathan Coachman, SportsCenter anchor
Adam Scott: This is a guy who always seems to show up. He has had positive results in The Open in recent years, and with a slow start to 2015, I think this is a great time for him to get back on the horse.
Michael Collins, ESPN.com senior golf analyst
Jordan Spieth: It's not possible to win on tour if you're under 20. It's not possible to win the Masters at such a young age. It's not possible for him to win the first two majors of the year. It's not possible for him to win the John Deere Classic last week, fly to Scotland and win The Open. Maybe we should stop saying what's not possible for this guy. (Full Top 25 Open rankings)
Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer
Adam Scott: It has been a mostly frustrating season for Scott, who attempted to play for a few weeks with a short putter, fared poorly, and then seemed to struggle going back to the long putter. But Scott appeared to get things turned around at the U.S. Open, where he tied for fourth with caddie Steve Williams back on the bag. Scott has been practicing at the Old Course for the past week, and unless he's worn himself out, that is an important and healthy sign. He loves The Open, should have won it in 2012 and has a streak of three consecutive top-five finishes. St. Andrews would top it off.
Kevin Maguire, ESPN.com senior golf editor
Shane Lowry: When you can pick players only once a year, as in this format, The Open is the perfect place to go off the map a little. When the Irishman won the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009 in horrific weather conditions, he showed he knows how to handle adversity on the golf course. St. Andrews will surely dish out a bit of that this week.
Jason Sobel, ESPN.com senior golf writer
Adam Scott: Very tough for me to go against Jordan Spieth and a chance at history, but Scott might be the world's pre-eminent links player and he looks like a different golfer with Steve Williams back on the bag. The loss in the 2012 Open still stings, especially considering it ended with four bogeys, but he can replace that memory with a much happier one at the Old Course this week.
John Ziomek, SportsCenter coordinating producer
Adam Scott: I think Dustin Johnson will win this week, but since I used him in L.A. already this year, I'm going with Scott. The Aussie's game finally seems to be rounding into form after a final-round 64 for a T-4 in his last start at the U.S. Open. Scott has come close to getting his hands on the Claret Jug with three top-five finishes in the past three years. I love the fact that he is flying under the radar just a bit, and if his putter cooperates, he very well could be the champion golfer this week.
Earlier this year, Chris Morfas commented on the Valspar Championship picks article and noted that accountability is rare these days. So in an effort at transparency, we will be updating the list below with each week's picks. Good idea, Chris.
Harig: $8,862,327
Ziomek: $6,389,604
Barrie: $5,155,147
Maguire: $4,310,507
Coachman: $3,380,672
Collins: $3,363,057
Sobel: $2,136,483
** denotes victory